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APRIL 27, 2010 - Record Number of College Degrees Produced by Oklahoma Public Higher Education

The total number of degrees conferred at Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities set a record for the eighth straight year.

According to the latest Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Degrees Conferred in Oklahoma Higher Education report, more than 30,000 students received certificates and degrees from Oklahoma public colleges and universities in the 2008-09 academic year. This is an 11.1 percent increase in graduates over the last five years.

“This trend of record-setting degree attainment is extremely exciting and vitally important,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “In this global economic downturn, the states that will recover faster and prosper longer are those that have a highly educated workforce. This report underscores the fact that our state system of higher education is succeeding in its mission to produce more college graduates and is giving them the tools they need to successfully compete in today’s economy.”

During the 2008-09 academic year, nearly 4,500 students received master’s degrees in a variety of fields, an 11.2 percent increase from the 2007-08 academic year. This represents the largest number of students receiving a master’s degree ever from Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities.

The number of bachelor's degrees conferred increased from 13,753 in 2003-04 to 15,920 in 2008-09. This represents a 15.8 percent increase over the last five years. Associate degrees increased 5.2 percent – from 7,883 to 8,291 – during the same time period.

The report shows that 402 students earned doctoral degrees during the 2008-09 academic year, while 907 others received professional degrees in areas such as law and medicine.